Lint, cat hair, dust, and fuzzies.
Storage
Wrinkles!?
Mud.
Stains!
How often do I wash my cloak??
How do you care for this garment?
Treat this cloak like you would a peacoat, you would rarely wash it.
So first, put away the soap and water. For a wool cloak thats a pretty radical treatment that we want to reserve.
If you don’t know what material your cloak is made out of, try sending me a picture of your cloak and I can help.
I have had my personal cloak since 2003, a black full length cashmere cloak- and it is still performing beautifully. Care for your cloak right, and it will last.
I have washed it a total of 2 times, never ironed it, and hung it on a hanger for years before I knew better.
They can be very forgiving.
Lint, cat hair, dust, and fuzzies
Wool cloaks are made out of animal fibers, and you might have already noticed that your lint brush does next to nothing.
So try a stiff nail brush. Gently run it across your cloak where ever you have a problem, taking off the acquired fuzzies with every stroke or so. Use a little spray of water on the brush to bring static down if it becomes an issue.
Storage
For all cloaks with day to day wear, i gently fold my cloak and place it on a closet shelf, or gently fold it in half and drape it across the bottom of the hanger. We want to preserve the shape of your shoulders that the cloak has “learned” to hold- so extended periods of time on hangers are not ideal. Likewise, avoid hanging it by the hood or neckline- especially when the cloak is wet!
For wool cloaks stored over longer periods of time i recommend a cedar chest. Natural fibers (like wool)have natural predators, and a little protection against sweater moths goes a long way. I do not recommend vacuum sealing, or compressing the cloak for long periods of time (remember! it has “learned” the shape of your shoulders!). At CloakConjury’s secret headquarters, all of your cloaks are stored gently folded in airtight bins with fragrant cedar planks. Non-wool cloaks need a little less TLC.
Wrinkles
Simply place the cloak on a padded hanger, and hang it in the bathroom when you shower.
The steam should relax the wrinkles easily. In heavier cloaks, simply wearing the cloak does a lot of wrinkle reduction.
If that doesnt work, or you need a faster solution- an iron on a moderately steamy setting will do the trick.
Keep the iron off the hood, however! The lining can’t handle that much heat.
Dirt, Mud, Other Icks (non staining)
You’ll need a stiff brush, the kind that someone might use to get dirt out of their nails.
Great! Now let whatever is on the cloak dry- and then see if you can brush it off with your stiff nail brush
(provided its not a material that would stain, see below).
Sometimes, once its dry you can brush it off with your hands!
I recommend giving it a really good Shake every once in awhile.
Use your stiff brush also to remove cat or dog hair, or other linty problems. A lint roller won’t work!
In the case of bubble gum, i recommend the ice method. Be very slow and methodical about it.
Stains
Stains are not usually a concern for darker cloaks, but things happen.
Chocolate, blood, wine, and food coloring, could all affect your cloak!
So for instance if you were enjoying a slice red velvet cake with dark chocolate shavings on top, and a glass of red wine? Be very cautious while you enjoy the good life in your light colored cloak.
In all seriousness, treat this stain like you would a stain in your couch upholstery first.
So that means immediately using cold water to rinse out the stain as best you can, and an appropriate soap for the stain itself (i recommend Borax for most things, dish soap for peanut butter or oily things) and rinsing thoroughly. No dice? Try soap a few more times. Try a New soap. As a last resort, try washing it as I discuss below.
If you must wash this cloak
If the cloak is wool, follow the basic protocol for Wool; never hot, and never too agitated! You want cold water, and probably a delicate cycle if your machine doesn’t have a wool setting. Be very careful of your clasp. You can safety pin a washcloth over the clasp, or remove it and replace it later. Just be aware that the larger clasps do pose a danger to your washing machine tub and your dryer. Use gentle soaps, as some of the loveable weather resistant properties of wool rely on the oils within the wool.
To dry your cloak, if it’s small you could try air fluff in your dryer- being aware of the problem of the clasp. But I recommend to lay down towels on the floor or a bed, and lay the cloak flat on the bed or floor for awhile. Flip it every few hours, being careful to lay it with few wrinkles and no lumps. After its mostly dry, then you can hang it on a padded hanger to finish off. Don’t start by drying it on the padded hanger, long cloaks full of water are very very heavy and it will warp the shape of your garment forever. We want your cloak to maintain the shape that your shoulders are teaching it to have!
Cloaks which are not wool require a little less attention to water temperature, and can usually go in the dryer. Use your best judgement about temperature. The same warning about cloak clasps remains. Protect your clasp and your machines by safety pinning a washcloth over the clasp before you throw it in.